Sugar substitutes - Deep Dive

Causing cancer? Or help you prevent diabetes? If you have ever tried to read about sugar substitutes, you are probably confused. Here you will find some science to help you decide.

On a warm summer afternoon, I was enjoying a can of a cold, sparkling, “sugar-free” beverage, when my beloved wife texted me an article, which pointed out that if I finish the drink I will likely die of cancer… The stress caused by my wife’s demands made me drink 3 more cans, followed by two beef burgers, rack of ribs, 2 beers and half a bottle of red wine — it was a dying man’s attempt to “neutralise” the artificial sweeteners in my refreshing beverage.

The attempt to dilute the poison must have worked, as I am still here. But it made me think. And because I have spent a lot of time digging into the evidence behind artificial sweeteners, now you can suffer as well trying to read it.

It would also help, if you could read my post on sugars — as it contains basic knowledge on sugars, written in a plain and simple language. This article however, is far more technical.

In the beginning…

Some say that long-term consumption of high doses of “sugar”, be it in the form of sucrose (i.e., table sugar) or high-fructose corn syrup has been shown to lead to weight gain and elevated risk for quite a few deadly chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and certain types of cancer.

Sugar is also bad, because an “influencer” on TikTok said so. Twice!

I love sugar. It is tasty, and (just like butter) makes everything taste even better. It is hard to deny sugar’s appeal (and its omnipresence in European and US diet). We are all born with a predisposition to enjoy and seek out sweet tastes. This preference is hardwired in the brains of many mammals and can not be “unlearned”.        

How is this possible, that we have a substance that accelerates disease and mortality for all, while also being highly-rewarding and universally appealing?